Author: Steven Willing

Many Christians are deeply engaged in the ongoing dispute over the interpretation of Genesis 1 and its concordance with scientific progress of the last 150 years. Participants run the gamut from geologists, astrophysicists, theologians, and scholars of ancient Hebrew to gym coaches and English majors. Arguments for and against various positions simmer endlessly - usually…

Although it's been out now for 13 years, The God Delusion  by Richard Dawkins still sets the standard for 21st century atheist polemics. Both lionized by atheists and demonized by some believers, he is deserving, I think, of neither. I've followed Dawkins for a while, mostly because of his particular pronouncements on the "improbability" of God.…

The State of the Evangelical Mind Reflections on the Past, Prospects for the Future  Edited by Todd C. Ream, Jerry A. Pattengale, and Christopher J. DeversIntervarsity Press, Dec 11, 2018 Mark Noll's 1994 "The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind" addressed his perceived lack of intellectual rigor in the American Evangelical community of the early 1990's.…

"Do not be wise in your own opinion." Romans 12:16 Breaking news! Most of us think we're smarter than most of us.In recent surveys, 65% of Americans rate themselves more intelligent than average. Furthermore, we are often quite certain in our beliefs. But is that confidence warranted? Intuitively, we suspect not. After decades of research…

Can you define envy? Is envy bad? Would you know if you had it? The classic “seven deadly sins” were lust, gluttony, sloth, wrath, pride, greed, and envy. According to the proverb, “a sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” Explain to me, if you can, the difference between…

Most of us think we are better than most of us. As a consequence, we are sometimes tempted to advertise our moral superiority through public expression. This is known as “moral grandstanding”. There’s nothing wrong with issuing public moral pronouncements; it’s not merely a right, but sometimes a duty. The issue here is motive. It…

It is early spring of 1943. The Axis powers are beginning to crumble against the massive and unrelenting Allied onslaught. Plans for the imminent invasion of Sicily are underway, establishing a base for the invasion and liberation of continental Europe. Meanwhile, back at US military intelligence, a tightly knit group of outliers have been poring…

Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astrayby Sabine Hossenfelder. Basic Books, June 2018. Reviewed by Steven Willing, MD “Physical laws should have mathematical beauty”. Paul Dirac, Nobel Laureate* Way back in 1973, the world of theoretical physics reached a dead end. That year marked the last successful prediction of any elemental particles - the…

Here, as anywhere, the wisdom of the great C. S. Lewis should be taken to heart: "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. .. It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we…

A glimpse of current literature regarding the benefits of monogamy: Effects on adults What Do We Know About the Link Between Marriage and Health? Journal of Family Issues 31(8):1019-1040, 2010: §  “Marriage reduces depression” §  “Unmarried adults are more likely to drink, use marijuana, and drive recklessly” §  “Married men and women experience lower mortality…

It is a conundrum why so many similar sounding words have paradoxically different meanings. Here is a guide to help you.

Tuesday morning, 9:07 a.m. In the not too distant future:     Hal: Hey, Car! Take me to Dunkin Donuts!   Driver Assistance Vehicle, Enhanced (DAVE): I’m sorry, Hal. I’m afraid I can’t do that. And my name is DAVE.   Hal: Whaddya mean, you can’t take me?   DAVE: According to your purchase history,…